George h



G. H. RICHARDS.

MEANS EOR COVERING TYPE WRITERS.

APPUCATION FILED JULY 9.191;.

1,315,794. IntentedSvpt. 2), mm.

FTE. 1.

\NITNEEEEE INVENTUR 5. 71k m w H15 ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. RICHARDS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO REMINGTON TYPEWRITER COMPANY, OF ILION, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MEANS FOR COVERING TYPE-WRITERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 9, 1919.

Application filed July 9, 1917. Serial No. 179,427.

'Type-lVriters, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to covers for typewriting machines and other machines to whichthe invention may be found adapted. The main objects of the Invention are to provide a cover of cloth, rubber, leather or other suitable flexible material which shall guard or protect the machine from bein tampered with by unauthorized persons, and also shall be substantially dust-proof and moisture proof.

To the above and other ends which will hereinafter appear, my present invention consists in the features of construction, combinations of devices, and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In carrying out my invention I provide a flexible cover having an openin edged with divided frame, the ends of w ich may be brought together and also separated, thus correspondinglycontracting and expanding the cover opening. In expanded condition the cover adapted to fit readily over the 'typewriting machine, and when thereafter contracted is adapted to cooperate closely with the usual baseboard of the machine, after which the ends of the frame may be locked, thus interlocking the cover with the baseboard so that the two cannot be separated except by unlocking and separating the ends of the frame. By this construction not only is the cover positively secured in place but there is also provided asubstantially dustproof 'joint between the baseboard'and the cover so that the typewriter within is wholly inclosed in a moisture and dust-proof envelop. The usual flexible covers heretofore provided have not been dust-proof nor have they been proof against ready removal by any one who might desire to get at the machine. On the other hand, the heavier and more expensive metal covers which have been adapted to be locked to the baseboarch'have not been dust-proof since their openings must be wide enough to fit over wide carriage machines, and these openings not being contractible or reducible have been of greater size than the baseboard so that a close dust-proof fit between the two has been an impossibility. My present invention combines the functions of being proof against dust and also against unauthorized displacement or removal and is at the same time light and comparatively cheap.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the preferred form of my inventioh,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved typewriter cover in lace, fitted over a typewriting machine, t e cover being broken away at one corner to expose in part the machine.

Fig. 2 is a detached bottom plan view of the cover.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front to rear sectional View of the cover, taken about centrally, the baseboard over which it is fitted being shown in full lines.

Fig. 4: is a fragmentary front elevation.

The typewriting machine which appears in Figs. 1 and 3 and is designated by the reference character 1, is provided with feet 2 which fit. in depressions in a baseboard 3 on which the typewriting machine is mounted, the machine usually being secured to the baseboard by suitable clamping devices. The baseboard is substantially rectangular and its edge in the present case is preferably shaped or formed to cooperate advantageously with my novel cover, being provided with flanges or projections which form in effect a groove. Regarding the edge of the baseboard as a whole, it may be said to comprise four parts or edges, the front and rear edge parts being undercut or offset at their tops so as to provide two flanges 4 and 5 that project beyond the respective under portions 6 and 7 The two side portions or edges are oppositely shaped or cut so that the flanges or offsets 8 are below and project beyond the upper portions 9.

My improved cover comprises a body portion or envelop 10 formed of some flexible material such as cloth, rubber, leather or the like, and in the present instance is for convenience of manufacture made in three pieces, a central or main piece 11, and two side pieces 12, the three pieces being suitably sewed or otherwise secured together,

forming in effect a single piece. As best may be seen in Fig. 2, the cover projects somewhat at the sides and this projection or extension at the sides will be more or less, according as the width of the machine is greater or less, wide carriage machines of course requiring greater width in the upper portion of the cover. The mouth ortion of the cover, however, is always 0 substantially the samedimensions, conforming to the baseboard which is usually of the same size and shape for all widths of machines. The mouth or opening in the cover is at its under side and is provided with a stiff or wire edge which in the present instance is obtained by employing a divided frame designated. as a whole by the numeral 13. This frame conforms substantially in shape to the outline of the baseboard 3 and is desi ed to coiiperate with the edge of the baseboard. While the divided frame may be formed of a number of pieces suitably jointed together and may be made of any suitable material, I have found it preferable to make it of a single piece of spring zvire divided at about the middle of the ront portion. The inherent spring in the wire is such that the ends tend to spring apart so that when not in use the spring frame is of the shape illustrated in Fig. 2; that is, while generallyrectangular like the baseboard, the sides of the wire frame diverge somewhat from the rear to the front and its front portion is wider than its rear portion. To allow of this separation without restriction from the cover proper, the front portion of the cover is split and is provided with a gusset 11. The free ends of the wire frame are looped, as indicated at i l and 15, the loop 14 being smaller than the loop 15 so as to pass through the latter when the ends are brought together. The wire frame is threaded through or fitted in a hem 10 extending around the entire lower edge of the envelop proper except the gusset portion, and formed by turning up the edge and stitching it, or in any other suitable way. The cover having been fitted or drawn over the machine the spring controller or wire frame portion 13 is brought into cooperation with the edge portions of the baseboard. The rear portion of the wire frame 13 should fit under the flange 5, the side portions should fit over the flanges 8, and the front portions when drawn together after the cover has been properly arranged in place, will fit under the flange 4. It will be understood that when the wire frame is contracted by drawing its ends together and fitting or passing the loop 14 inside the loop 15, the wire will be drawn tightly into the corners 5, 7; 8, 9; and 4, 6 of the baseboard edge and will force the hem portion 10 of the cover proper so tightly into these corners that there will be provided asubstantially dustproof joint or connection between the baseboard and the frame, such a joint as will practically exclude dust from the interior inclosed by the cover and the baseboard. The gusset or plait 11 while broken away in Fig. i. so as not to obscure other parts, ex tends preferably to or below the wire 13. Moreover, if desired the hem or border 10 at one side may be extended across the gusset providing a tab which may be fastened to the opposite end portion of the hem by a button, snap or the like. Also it will be understood that the cover will be positively interlocked with the baseboard, the front and rear flanges 4 and 5 preventing upward displacement of the wire 13 and the flanges 8 preventing downward displacement thereof. In other words, the flanges 4:, 5 and 8 provide in effect a groove in the baseboard in which the Wire or edge portion of the cover is seated and interlocked. Preferably a padlock 16, or other locking means, is engaged with the loop 14 after it has in turn been engaged with the loop 15, thus providing a locking means which insures that no one not in possession of the key to it can disengage the cover from the baseboard.

It will be observed that by my present invention there is provided a flexible typewriter cover with an opening having a di vided frame, the ends of which may be brought together and secured after the cover has been fitted in place; that the divided frame is preferably made of spring wire, the ends of which tend to spring apart because of constant outward tension at g'ts divided free ends; that the divided fr me, while it may vary in shape in the present instance, is substantially rectangular in form, adapted to fit closely around the sides of a rectangular baseboard and fastened thereto by connecting the free divided ends of said frame; that the cover may be of any suitable material or fabric such as cloth or leather or rubber composition; that the wire frame serves as a spring controller; and that means are provided.

for fixing the relationship between said controller and the baseboard, the baseboard having shaped portions or flanges at its edges with which said wire cooperates or -What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a rectangular" baseboard having two of its opposite sides undercut to provide flanges at the upper edges, the other two sides bein oppositely out to provide flanges at the ower edges, and a flexible cover having an opening provided with an expansible rectangular wire which is adapted to cooperatively engage with the flanged sides of said baseboard. 1

2. The oombination of a baseboard having certain of its sides undercut to provide flanges at the upperedgcs, alternate sides being oppositely cut to provide flanges at the lower edges, and a flexible cover having an opening provided with an expansible wire which is adapted to cooperatively engage with the flanged sides of said base- 20 board.

3. The combination of a rectangular baseboard and a flexible cover having an opening provided with an expansible rectangular wire, successive sides of the baseboard being eut oppositely to provide seats for said wire.-

Signed at the borough of Manhattan, cit V of New York, inthe county of New Yorc and State of New York, this 7th day of 3. July, A. D. 1917.

GEORGE H. RICHARDS.

Witnesses:

CHARLES E. SMITH,

E. M. WELLS. 

